93
of deep water phytoplankton to the productivity of the whole water cofo It:: ~~ :I;:~~· ::~::;~~ ~L
;
.0
E
100
t
i
100
Fig. 2 - Vertical distribution
of temperature (T °c --- ) ,oxygen (02 ml 1- 1 ---) and chlorophyll a (mg m-3 ····)at two offshore stations (Q14, Q32) in October 1977.
within each Gulf.
umn.
B. Coastal waters
Inshore areas manifested
unpredictable spatial and temporal variability in physical-chemical parameters contrasting offshore areas characterized by low phytoplankton biomass and similar species composition throughout the year
for both Gulfs. Phytoplankton
abundance, species composition
and succession not only differed from those observed in open
waters but also varied from
one coastal area to another
As mentioned previously, nutrient enrichment in coastal waters was
mainly due to runoff and discharges scattered along the coast of both
Gulfs. The effects of such nutrient inputs varied throughout the year
in relation to climatic conditions as well as to the water column structure. In fact, highest biomass was recorded in surface layers during
late spring and summer when stratification of water column limited the
vertical diffusion of nutrient plumes. For the rest of the year, and
particularly during well mixed winter conditions, nutrients were diluted
in larger volumes of water and spread further offshore.
In the Gulf of Naples, intense and diversified sources of land runoff entering into a morphologically complex basin resulted in steep
inshore-offshore gradients. Such gradients were observed simultaneously
in different sites (Carrada et al., 1980). During summer, phytoplankton
abundances in coastal waters often assumed values exceeding two orders
of deep water phytoplankton to the productivity of the whole water cofo It:: ~~ :I;:~~· ::~::;~~ ~L
;
.0
E
100
t
i
100
Fig. 2 - Vertical distribution
of temperature (T °c --- ) ,oxygen (02 ml 1- 1 ---) and chlorophyll a (mg m-3 ····)at two offshore stations (Q14, Q32) in October 1977.
within each Gulf.
umn.
B. Coastal waters
Inshore areas manifested
unpredictable spatial and temporal variability in physical-chemical parameters contrasting offshore areas characterized by low phytoplankton biomass and similar species composition throughout the year
for both Gulfs. Phytoplankton
abundance, species composition
and succession not only differed from those observed in open
waters but also varied from
one coastal area to another
As mentioned previously, nutrient enrichment in coastal waters was
mainly due to runoff and discharges scattered along the coast of both
Gulfs. The effects of such nutrient inputs varied throughout the year
in relation to climatic conditions as well as to the water column structure. In fact, highest biomass was recorded in surface layers during
late spring and summer when stratification of water column limited the
vertical diffusion of nutrient plumes. For the rest of the year, and
particularly during well mixed winter conditions, nutrients were diluted
in larger volumes of water and spread further offshore.
In the Gulf of Naples, intense and diversified sources of land runoff entering into a morphologically complex basin resulted in steep
inshore-offshore gradients. Such gradients were observed simultaneously
in different sites (Carrada et al., 1980). During summer, phytoplankton
abundances in coastal waters often assumed values exceeding two orders